A mother-of-two from Bristol, Charlotte Gibbs, is currently in hospital in Cambridge, 150 miles from her home, as she awaits a heart transplant. She has already spent three weeks at Royal Papworth Hospital, where her specialist is based, for monitoring.
Ms Gibbs described the separation from her family as "awful", with her family making a seven-hour round trip each weekend to visit. She noted her children are exhausted and that this is the longest she has been away from them since they were born.
Diagnosed with heart failure 12 years ago, Ms Gibbs' symptoms worsened after her second pregnancy, leading to a cardiomyopathy diagnosis and the need for a heart transplant. Further tests revealed her kidneys were also failing. According to NHS Blood and Transplant data, the average wait time for a heart transplant for patients on the urgent list is 50 days.
Despite the challenges, Ms Gibbs and her family are focusing on "trying to see the good". Friends and Kingswood Rugby Club have supported the family by helping to cover travel and accommodation costs.